Retaining and snap-ring pliers with selectively usable tip means for cooperation with various different retaining and/or snap rings



Filed May 22, 1967 Dec. 23. 1969 F. DAHL 3,484,924

RETAINING AND SNAP-RING PLIERS WITH SELECTIVELY USABLE TIP MEANS FOR COOPERATION WITH VARIOUS DIFFERENT RETAINING AND/0R SNAP RINGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Dec. 23. 1969 F. L. DA L RETAINING AND SNAP-RING PLIERS WITH SELECTIVELY USABLE TIP MEANS FOR COOPERATION WITH VARIOUS DIFFERENT Filed May 22, 1967 RETAINING AND/OR SNAP RINGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 380 34a 37a 46a 320 INVENTOR.

Dec. 23. 1969 F. L. DAHL 3,484,924

RETAINING AND SNAP-RING PLIERS WITH SELECTIVELY USABLE TIP MEANS FOR COOPERATION WITH VARIOUS DIFFERENT RETAINING AND/OR SNAP RINGS Filed May 22, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,484,924 RETAINING AND SNAP-RING PLIERS WITH SELECTIVELY USABLE TIP MEANS FOR CO- OPERATION WITH VARIOUS DIFFERENT RETAINING AND/ OR SNAP RINGS Frank L. Dahl, 5248 W. 119th Place, Inglewood, Calif. 90304 Filed May 22, 1967, Ser. No. 640,027

Int. Cl. B23p 19/04 US. Cl. 29-229 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Generally speaking, the present invention relates to the tool art and, more particularly, to a hand tool of a pliertype construction having a pair of opposable handles provided adjacent to forward ends thereof, with pivotal interconnection means, and integrally provided therebeyond, in an effectively positionally reversed relationship in one form of the invention and in a non-positionally reversed relationship in another form of the invention, with a pair of mounting arms carrying at their forward ends a corresponding pair of opposed jaw members, each of which is provided with a plurality of individually selectively usable tip members for movement between inoperative and operative positions without removing same and from the tool itself, said movement between inoperative and operative positions being of a pivotal nature provided by pivotal mounting of rear ends of said tip members within said jaw members. This has the decided advantage of providing a complete tool which at all times is capable of use in forcibly deflecting (opening or closing) a retaining or snap ring since the desired tip member will normally be among the plurality of tip members carried by the tool.

The above arrangement of the present invention is in contrast to the conventional prior art arrangement and method where a pair of pliers and a plurality of completely separate, interchangeable tip members are usually employed, which necessitates the selection of the desired tip member and the engagement thereof, by fastening engagement means, with respect to the jaws of the pliers in a rigid manner. After completion of the use of the assembled tool and before it can be used for subsequently opening a different size of snap or retaining ring, it is usually necessary to open the fastening or engagement means, remove the tip members previously mounted in the pliers, and replace same with a different pair of tip members, followed by the tightening of the fastening or engagement means in order to hold the replacement tip members firmly in place. This is not only a time-consuming operation which greatly slows down the rapid use of such retaining or snap ring pliers of the prior art type, but has the decided disadvantage that it requires that a plurality. of physically separated tip members be available at all times. However, this is diflicult to achieve because the mere fact that the prior art tip members are physically separated from the prior art tool leads to their frequent loss and consequent unavailability when needed.

The fact that the plurality of tip members of the present "ice invention are normally in retracted, inoperative position, allows the tool to be handled, stored, and otherwise treated precisely the same as would the pliers portion of the prior art tool mentioned above, since the tip members do not extend in a manner requiring any greater clearance or storage space than the conventional prior art retaining ring pliers, and, of course, the major advantage of the present invention is the immediate availability of the desired tip members and the fact that they cannot be lost, plus the greater speed of selection of desired tip members as compared with the relatively slow tip member interchanging prior art operation referred to above. I 1

With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel retaining ring or snap ring deflecting tool having any or all of the advantages referred to herein and including any or all of the features referred to herein, generically and/or specifically, and individually or in combination, and which is of extremely simple, inexpensive construction adapted to be manufactured at low cost, both with respect to initial tooling cost and the cost of production per unit item, such as to be conducive to widespread use of the tool for the purposes outlined herein and for any other substantially equivalent purposes.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which follows hereinafter (which is to be considered as exemplary of, but not specifically limiting, the present invention), and said objects will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study of the detailed description which follows hereinafter, and all such implicit objects are intended to be included and comprehended herein as fully as if particularly defined and pointed out herein.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, several exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the hereinbelow-described figures of the accompanying drawings and are described in detail hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, in full elevation, of a first exemplary and non-specifically limiting embodiment of the invention, showing it in solid lines in substantially fully closed relationship of the opposed jaw members such as would normally occur at or substantially at completion of a snap ring or retaining ring deflection operation. A somewhat more open, relative position of the jaw members is shown with respect to one of same in phantom lines in FIG. 1. l

FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1. However, it shows one of the tip members carried by the left jaw member of FIG. 1, pivoted from its inner, extreme, effectively retracted position into its outer, extreme, effectively extended, operative position. This is done in order to provide a maximum of information and a minimum number of figures. I

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 as seen in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, partially broken away view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 2, and clearly illustrates several of the tip members carried by one of the pair of jaw members of the plurality of pairs of such tip members and shows them in their inner, extreme, effectively retracted inoperative positions.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, and is also of a fragmentary, partially broken away, partially sectional and partially elevational nature, but is taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view generally similar to FIG. 1,

modified form of the invention.

views.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, partially broken away view, taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 99 of FIG. 6 and shows the apparatus with one of the handles, one of the mounting arms, and one of the jaw members completely removed for reasons of drawing simplification and clarity.

FIG. 10' is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, taken substantially on the plane indicated by the arrows 10-10 of FIG. 9 and of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view generally similar to FIG. 1, but illustrates a slight modification of the first form of the invention effectively converting the tool into what might be termed an outside diameter type of tool intended to exert force outwardly on the engagement portions of a retaining or snap ring of the outside diameter type.

FIG. 12 is a right side elevational view of FIG. 11. However, it shows the apparatus of FIG. 11 with the complete left handle, left mounting arm and left jaw member of FIG. 11 removed from FIG. 12 for reasons of drawing simplicity and clarity.

FIG. 13 is an elevational view generally similar to FIG. 6 (with the left near cover plate removed) but illustrates a slight modification thereof effectively converting the tool into what might be termed an outside diameter type of tool intended to exert force outwardly on the engagement portions of a retaining or snap ring of the outside diameter type.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, exploded, perspective view of the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 13 and shows the forward portion thereof from the location of the pivotal interconnection means forwardly thereof and includes the opposed jaw members, the plurality of tip members, various spacer members, and fastening rivets employed in this exemplary embodiment of the invention for providing the assembled structure shown in FIG. 13. Generally speaking, the present invention relates to retaining and/or snap ring pliers with selectively usable tip means, and in the exemplary first form thereof illustrated in FIGS. 15 inclusive, the tool is primarily of what might be termed an inside diameter type and comprises a pair of opposed jaw members, such as generally designated at 20, each provided with and being mounted at the forward end of a corresponding mounting arm 22 of a pair of such mounting arms 22 having pivotal interconnection means, such as generally designated at 24, positioned at similar locations along each of said pair of mounting arms 22 in a similar, rearwardly spaced relationship with respect to the corresponding one of said pair of jaw members 20. The exemplary first form of the invention illustrated also includes a pair of operating handles 26 having forward portions integrally connected to rear portions of said previously mentioned pair of opposed jaw members 22 in an effective crossover manner with respect to the pivotal interconnection means 24 so that the handles 26 are positionally reversed with respect to the positioning of the corresponding mounting arms 22 integrally connected thereto, as is best known in FIG. 1. In other words, to clarify this matter with even greater particularity, the right handle 26 of FIG. 1 has its forward portion connected to a rear portion of the left mounting arm 22 of FIG. 1, while the'left operating handle 26 of FIG. 1 has its forward portion integrally connected to a rear portion of the rightmounting arm 22 of FIG. 1the effective crossoverfrom handle to operating arm occurring at or I adjacent to the region in which the pivotal interconnection means 24 is positioned.

Incidentally, it should be noted that the pivotal interconnection means 24 merely comprises a pair of similar through holes 28 in the crossover or overlapped portions 30 of the two handles 26 provided with a retaining rivet or other double headed effective pivot pin means as indicated at 31, which functions to pivotally interconnect the handles 26 and positionally reversed operating arms 22 for relative pivotal movement and also functions to retain the crossover portions 30 in closely front-to-rear adjacent relationship, as is most clearly evident in FIG. 2.

Each of the jaw members 20 is provided with a similar plurality of ring engageable tip members, such as generally designated by the reference numeral 32, movably mounted for movement between an inner, effectively retracted and inoperative position and an outer, effectively extended and operative position for opposable and forcible engagement with respect to corresponding engagement portions (usually apertures) of a retaining ring or snap ring (not shown since such are well known in the art) which is to be resiliently forcibly deflected (usually closed) by corresponding manually caused forcible relative movement of the handles 26 toward each other and the corresponding relative inward movement of said jaw members 20 and said outwardly extending, operatively positioned selected pair of said tip members 32.

It should, of course, be understood that the engagement points 34 of the pair of outwardly extending tip members 32 are adapted to be inserted into the above-mentioned but not shown engagement or a'pertured portions of a retaining or snap ring for forcibly deflecting (usually closing the spaced-apart end portions of such a ring) so that it can be mounted within a recessed member or removed therefrom. Upon completion of such an operation, of course, the handles 26 of the tool are then allowed to open to whatever extent the snap ring requires to allow easy disengagement of the engagement points 34 from the engagement portions or apertures of the snap or retaining ring.

Such a snap ring or engagement ring is not shown in the drawings since such structures are well known in the art and comprise no part of the present invention. The abovedescribed ring deflecting operation is, of course, facilitated by reason of the fact that the pair of tip members 32 which are shown in outwardly extended, operative relationship in FIG. 1 are prevented from any further outwardly pivotal movement by engagement thereof with what might be termed the outer stop edge abutment portions 36 of the two corresponding jaw members 20. This structure will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

In order to make it possible for the tool to properly engage, for forcible deflection, any of a variety of different types and/or sizes of snap rings and/ or retaining rings, it is necessary to have a number of different tip members 32 having the appropriate and differing characteristics required for proper engagement with, and resilient deflection of, corresponding different snap rings or retaining rings, and this is the primary reason for the provision of a plurality of tip members 32. In the first form of the invention illustrated, it will be noted that each jaw member 20 is provided with four different tip members 32 which differ from each other in certain char acteristics. For example, the near left tip member 32 carried by the left jaw member 20 of FIG. 1 and the similar, near right ti-p member 32 carried by the right jaw member 20 of FIG. 1, each has a lower portion 37 which is longitudinally directed, and each has an angularly directed outer portion 38 immediately behind the point engagement portion 34 thereof, thus positioning the engagement point 34 at a location such with respect to the rest of the tool as to facilitate the engagement thereof with engagement or apertured portions of a retaining or snap ring adapted to be positioned in a location which might be difiicult of access if the outer portions 38 were not so an gularly bent.

Similarly, the rear tip member 32 of FIG. 1 carried by each of the jaw members of FIG. 1 and which, in said view, are shown in their inner extreme, retracted positions, have outer portions 40 which are bent substantially at right angles to the remainder of each of said rear tip members 32. This is best shown in FIG. 2 wherein the near one of said rear tip members 32 is still shown in its inner, inoperative position in solid lines, while the most remote one of same is shown in phantom the way it would appear when moved into its outer extreme operative position. This is done in FIG. 2 merely so it can be seen, since it will be understood that the most remote one of said rear right angle tip members 32 would lie immediately behind the near one thereof in FIG. 2 if it remained in the same position as shown in FIG. 1 and, therefore, could not be seen. The two intermediate tip members 32 carried by each of the jaw members 20 are shown as being substantially straight but having different sized eng'agement points 34. However, the invention is not specifically so limited, and any or all of the opposed pairs of tip members 32 may be modified in various ways as to size, as to length, and as to position of the point engagement portions 34 thereof depending upon the intended conditions and circumstances of use.

In the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, each of the jaw members 20 comprises a similar (although positionally reversed in the form of the invention illustrated), substantially U-shaped yoke structure 42 defining a mounting recess 44 therein which is provided with a transversely directed mounting and pivot pin means 46 extending transversely thereacross in a direction parallel to the main rivet or pivot pin 31.

In the example illustrated, each of said transversely di rected mounting and pivot pin means 46 comprises a headed screw which can, therefore, easily be mounted across the opposite side portions of the corresponding yoke structure 42. It may have threads only at the end thereof remote from the head so that the center portion will freely rotatably mount effectively apertured back end parts, such as shown at 48, of the corresponding tip members 32 for free rotation between the inner retracted positions, such as shown in FIG. 1 with respect to all but the two near tip members and such as is shown in FIG. 4 with respect to all tip members, and the outer extended, operative positions thereof such as is shown with respect to the two near tip members in FIG. 1.

In the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated,

the effectively apertured back end parts 48 of each of the tip members 32 merely comprise a wraparound portion of the tip member which encircles the correspondmg mounting and pivot pin means 46, as is perhaps best shown in FIG. 4. However, various other pivotal mounting constructions may be employed within the broad scope of the present invention in lieu thereof.

It will be noted that the upper edge of each of the yoke structures 42 effectively defines and comprises the previously mentioned outer stop edge abutment means or portion 36 of the corresponding jaw members 20, and functions to transmit positive inward force from the corresponding jaw members 20 to the pair of outwardly extended tip members 32 for snap ring deflecting usage.

It should be noted that the type of tool illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 is only capable of exerting inwardly directed force to the engagement portions (usually apertures) of a snap ring by way of the tip members 32 in the extending operative positions thereof and the point engagement portions 34 thereof. In the event that the snap ring or retaining ring is of a type wherein the free end portions thereof having engagement portions or apertures are crossed over into a beyond-closure position, the first form of the tool shown in FIGS. 1-5 can be employed for forcing the crossed-over, beyond-closure engagement portions back towarda closure position, and this will havethe effect of efiectively opening the resilient or snap ring somewhat, which will allow it to be placed over some element upon which it is to be mounted. In other words, the snap ring or retaining ring may be then said to be of a type which would be considered an outside diameter ring adapted to lie around the outside diameter of some mounting structure. However, this is not the primary purpose of the exemplary first form of tool illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, which is primarily intended for forcibly deflecting a type of snap ring or retaining ring which is intended to be forcibly resiliently deflected toward a closed position by the tool so that it may be mounted inside of some mounting structure which is to carry same. Thus, the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 may, under such circumstances, be considered to be primarily an inside diameter tool intended to mount resilient or snap rings of the inside diameter type just referred to. However, as will be clarified hereinafter, the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 may be effectively positionally reversed as to the facing directions of the opposed jaw members and may be modified so that the jaw members may not be in a cross-over relationship with respect to the handles, and the modified tool will then become primarily an outside diameter type of tool intended to primarily open retaining or snap rings so that such a retaining or snap ring may be mounted around the outside of a member or structure which is to carry same. Such a modification of the first form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 11 and will be described briefly hereinafter.

FIGS. 6-10 illustrate a second modification of the invention wherein the tool is also primarily of what might be termed an inside diameter type which is capable of being modified in a manner similar to that described hereinbefore with respect to the first form of the invention wherein it is converted into a primarily outside diameter type of tool, as illustrated in FIG. 11. Such a further modification of the FIGS. 6-10 form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 13 and will be briefly described hereinafter.

It should be noted that each of the screws comprising the mounting and pivot pin means 46 may be tightened with respect to the side portions of the corresponding yoke structure 42 to an extent such as to provide considerable frictional engagement between adjacent apertured rear end portions 48 of the tip members 32 so that they will frictionally remain in any adjusted position, such as the outer extreme, extended, operative position thereof, or the inner extreme, retracted, inoperative position thereof. This will prevent them from loosely swinging about, which might be undesirable. Furthermore, if any loosening up of this frictional engagement occurs over a period of time, each of the slotted, headed screws 46 may be retightened to again provide the desired frictional engagement between the tip members 32 to facilitate the position-retaining feature just described. Also, it should be noted that, in certain forms of the invention, each of the mounting arms 22 and/or each of the yoke structures 42 may be provided, if desired, with effective inner stop edge abutment portions functioning to stop further pivotal movement of the tip members 32 after they have been moved into their inner retracted positions.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6-10 is very similar to the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 and described in detail hereinbefore and, therefore, similar parts are designated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter a, however. In this modification, it will be noted that one of the major differences is the fact that each of the opposed jaw members 20a is somewhat differently constructed from the jaw members 20 of the first form of the invention, and may be said to comprise similar coplanar s'ot-defining bifurcated members or means 42a for the tip members 32a mounted thereby. In other words, the apertured rear end 48a of each tip member 32a is mounted in a corresponding slot 50, and the rounded rear end 48a is differently shaped and formed from the corresponding portion 48 of the tip member 32 of the first form of the invention and may, in effect, be said to comprise an effective cam means. Also each of the slots 50 is provided with cantilever spring means 52 which is fastened by suitable fastening means 54 remote from the free defiectable end 56 thereof, which lies in the corresponding slot 50 adjacent to the rounded rear end cam portion 48a of the corresponding tip member 32a in a manner such that the rear end cam means 48a effectively moves outwardly and forcibly outwardly deflects the free cantilever spring end 56 when the corresponding tip member 32a moves between the inner extreme, efiectively retracted position thereof and the outer extreme, effectively extended and operative position thereof. This causes the free end 56 of the cantilever spring 52 to tend to hold or lock the corresponding tip member 32a in either one of its extreme positions.

Also, it should be noted that, in the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6-10, each of the tip members 32a is provided with a stop abutment shoulder 58 at an exterior side thereof when the tip member 32a is in its outwardly extreme, effectively extended, operative position, as is clearly shown in FIG. 6, for positive locking and position-stopping abutment with the extreme forward end 56 of the cantilever biasing spring 52 in a nondeflection-producing and effectively tip-member-locking manner. It will also be noted that, in the modified form illustrated in FIGS. 6-10, each of the tip members 32a has a thumb or finger nail engageable slot 60 and a cutaway access portion 61 which facilitates the engagement and forcible movement of any selected tip member 32a from its inner extreme position into its outer extreme, effectively extended, operative position-said movement occurring in what might be termed a two-position, overcenter, snap-action manner.

Of course, any of the tip members 32a may have outer point engagement portions 34a similar to any of those shown in the first form of the invention, and it should be clearly understood that the tip members and/ or the point engagement portions thereof may be modified as to shape, size, position, and the like, depending upon the needs or requirements of the particular intended use for the tool.

In addition to the above, the FIGS. 6-10 modification of the invention is also shown as being provided with a main biasing spring means 62 which functions to effectively bias both the handles 26a and the jaw members a in directions such as to cause said jaw members 20a to normally be widely separated from each other under the action of said biasing spring means 62. In this connection, it should be noted that the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 may be similarly provided with biasing spring means, if desired, or the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6-10 may be modified to be similar to the first form of the invention and have no such biasing spring means. If desired, various other types of biasing spring means may be employed in either form of the invention.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a modification of the first form of the invention to effectively convert it to what might be primarily termed an outside diameter tool intended for forcibly opening outside diameter types of snap rings or retaining rings, and, therefore, parts similar to those of the first form of the invention are designated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter however. It will be noted that each of the jaw members 20b has been positionally reversed in FIG. 11 from the showing thereof in FIG. 1 and, thus, is capable of exerting outward force through the corresponding tip members 32b and engagement points 34b thereof so as to be capable of forcibly opening a snap or retaining ring (not shown). It will also be noted that in this form of the invention the jaw 20b integrally connected to a particular handle member 26b is not related thereto in a crossover manner with respect to the pivotal interconnection means 24b as in he fi st form of the in ent on; both th jaw 20b and the handle member 26b lying on the same side of the pivotal interconnection means 24b. This is true of each handle member 26b and each integrally connected jaw member 20b, and causes the jaw members 20b to be forcibly opened when the handle members 26b are forced toward each other. Otherwise, this modification of the invention is substantially the same as the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, and it is believed that no further detailed description is needed and that, indeed, such would be redundant in view of the full description of the first form of the invention set forth hereinbefore.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are views which are similar in many respects to FIGS. 11 and 12 but merely illustrate a modification of the second form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6-10, to effectively convert it to what might be primarily termed an outside diameter tool intended for forcibly opening outside diameter types of snap rings or retaining rings, and, therefore, parts functionally similar to the FIGS. 6-10 form of the invention are designated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter 0, however. It will be noted that each of the jaw members 20c has been positionally reversed in FIGS. 13 and 14 from the showing of FIG. 6 and thus is capable of exerting outward force through the corresponding tip members 320 and engagement points 340 thereof so as to be capable of forcibly opening a snap or retaining ring (not shown). It will also be noted that in this form of the invention the jaw 20c integrally connected to a particular handle member 260 is not related thereto in a crossover manner with respect to the pivotal interconnection means 24c as in FIG. 6; both the jaw 20c and the handle member 26c lying on the same side of the pivotal interconnection means 240. This is true of each handle member 260 and each integrally connected jaw member 200, and causes the jaw members 20c to be forcibly opened when the handle members 26c are forced toward each other. Otherwise, this modification of the invention is substantially the same as the FIGS. 6-10 form of the invention, and it is believed that no further detailed description is needed and that, indeed, such would be redundant in view of thefull description of the FIGS. 6-10 form of the invention set forth hereinbefore.

It should be noted that in the above briefly referred to modification illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, the jaw members comprise a plurality of layers of relatively thin sheets of metal fastened together by the plurality of fastening rivets 54c and the main effective fastener 31c of the pivotal interconnection means 240 whereby to effectively provide an assembled structure such as that shown in FIG. 13 after assembly and shown in FIG. 14 before assembly, which will have slot means 50c corresponding to the slot means 50 of the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6-10, except that the slot means 500 will be outwardly open rather than inwardly open in the manner of the slot means 50 of the previously described form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6-10. Also, the multiple layer arrangement, best understood by a careful examination of the multiple layers and elements thereof shown in exploded form in FIG. 14, will appropriately mount cantilever spring means 520 with their free ends 56c properly positioned for inward deflection during arcuate movement of the corresponding tip members 32c, which are positioned in the corresponding slot means 500 with their rounded rear ends 480 cooperating for forcible inward deflection of the corresponding free biasing ends 560 of the corresponding cantilever spring means 520 which, of course, lies in the corresponding slot means 500 so as to be co-planar with the particular tip member 320 which it effectively biases. In other words, the arrangement shown in exploded, pre-assembly form in FIG. 14 and in fully assembled form in FIG. 13, is precisely the same as the earlier form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6-10 with the exception of the fact that a l f the elements ju t reterred to of the p ir of opp sed 9 jaw members 20c are positionally reversed from their positions as shown in the previously described form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6-10 which, incidentally, is constructed in precisely the same way as the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 except for the above-mentioned positional reversal of the various elements thereof.

It should be noted that the multiple-layer construction of the modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 (which as pointed out above is the same type of construction as that employed in the previously described form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6-10 except for the relative positional reversal of the corresponding elements) is provided for by employing for each jaw member 20c an outer cover plate P on each outer surface thereof (thus making a total of four such outer cover plates P) with two pairs of thin-sheet, opposed tip members 32c being positioned between the corresponding cover plates P and being provided in co-planar relationship therewith (that is, on each of two horizontal planes co-planar with the corresponding cantilever biasing springs 52c, and with the slots 50c and the appropriate horizontal alignment of the tip members 32c and the cantilever spring means 520 being provided by the proper interpositioning between the various elements referred to of a plurality of thin-sheet functional spacer members or elements designated by the reference character S. In certain cases, the spacers are independent members and in at least two cases they comprise forward portions of, or actual parts of, the previously mentioned mounting arms 22c integrally attached to the forward ends of the handles 26c forward of the pivotal interconnection means 24c.

It should be clearly understood that when the exploded multiple elements shown in FIG. 14 are fully assembled in the proper relationship as shown in FIG. 13 after such assembly, the left uppermost tip member 320 shown in FIG. 14 is in direct opposition to the right uppermost tip member 32c shown in FIG. 14 and the left lowermost tip member 32c is in direct opposition to the right lowermost tip member 32c, with the various spacers S being appropriately positioned in proper spacing relationship with respect thereto and with respect to the pair of outer cover plates P. This provides a clear horizontal datum or reference which clarifies the proper, effectively interleaved or interplanar relationship of the various thin-sheet elements of FIG. 14 when in the fully assembled form shown in FIG. 13, and precisely the same relationship, except for positional reversal from outwardly facing to inwardly facing, is true of the construction of the previously described form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6-10, and it is believed that the showing of FIG. 14 provides an entirely adequate teaching of the multi-layer construction thereof without adding a further view or views of an exploded or other type, showing the multiple layers in positionally reversed relationship as is actually true of the FIGS. 610 form of the invention. It appears that this would be redundant since the multiple layers are arranged in precisely the way illustrated in FIG. 14prior to assembly and in FIG. 13 after assembly, except for the positional reversal so that all of the elements face inwardly, whereby to define inwardly directed slot means rather than facing outwardly whereby to define the outwardly facing slot means 50c shown in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 and wherein each of the tip members is adapted to swing inwardly of the corresponding jaw member when moving between the inner, retracted, effectively inoperative position thereof and the outer, extended, effectively operative position thereof rather than to swing outwardly of the corresponding jaw member, as is true of the modification of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14.

It should be noted that, in the various forms of the invention illustrated as exemplified by the first form of the invention, the movement of the mounting arms, such as 10 designated by the reference numeral 22 in the first form of the invention, for example, in response to closing movement of the operating handles, such as designated by the reference numeral 26 in the first form of the invention, for example, is disclosed as being of an arcuate nature and is also correspondingly described in the corresponding portions of the specification set forth hereinbefore. However, it should be clearly understood that this is merely one exemplary type of correlated movement of the mounting arms in response to closing movement of the operating handles, and the invention is not limited to such arcuate movement, whether in a closing direction or an opening direction, but may comprise various other types of movement capable of forcibly deflecting (either closing or opening) snap rings or retaining rings in accordance with the foregoing teachings of the present invention. One arrangement exemplary of such variations in the type of movement of the mounting arms is movement of a substantially laterally directed, rectilinear or translatory movement type which can readily be provided by merely employing a rectilinear or translatory movement producing means associated with, or effectively replacing, the exemplary but not specifically limiting type of pivotal interconnection means specifically disclosed in the drawings and specifications hereinbefore. Such an arrangement, which is well known in the art, usually comprises a parallelogram-mic linkage so that movement of the opposed mounting arms, such as those shown at 22 in the first form of the invention, for example, and of the jaw members carried thereby, such as those designated by the reference numeral 32 in the first form of the invention, for example, will be substantially laterally directed toward each other in a straight line path rather than along an arcuate path as occurs in the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1. This may be thought advantageous under some circumstances, and all such arrangements are intended to be included and comprehended within the broad scope of the present invention.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific description thereof set forth in this application are for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specific structure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore. Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantially equivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventive concept of the present invention.

I claim: 4

1. Retaining or snap-ring pliers with selectively usable tip means for deflecting cooperation with various different retaining or snap rings, comprising: a pair of opposed jaw members provided with and mounted at the forward ends of a pair of mounting arms having pivotal interconnecting means at similar locations rearwardly spaced from said jaw members; and a pair of operating handles having forward ends connected to corresponding rear ends of corresponding ones of said mounting arms and with respect to the pivotal interconnection means in a manner such that forcible manual closing movement of said operating handles will effectively cause correlated movement of said pair of mounting arms and said pair of opposed jaw members relative to said pivotal interconnection means; each of said jaw members being provided with and simultaneously mounting a similar plurality of ring-engageable tip members in a plurality of transversely adjacent planes with only one tip member carried by each jaw member lying in any particular one of said plurality of transversely adjacent planes and with each tip member being independently rotatably movably mounted for arcuate movement in its own individual one of said plurality of transversely adjacent planes between an inner extreme, effectively retracted and inoperative position with said tip member lying effectively at least partially within, adjacent to, and oppositely directed with respect to the corresponding jaw member, and an outer extreme, effectively extended and operative position with said tip member being similarly directed with respect to and comprising a forward extension of the corresponding jaw member and being effectively parallel to and closely adjacent to a corresponding coplanar extended tip member carried by the other jaw member in a position for forcible engagement with respect to corresponding engagement portions of a retaining or snap ring which is to be resiliently forcibly deflected by corresponding relative closing movement of said operating handles and correlated relative movement of said jaw members and said outwardly extended, operatively positioned selected pair of said tip members; each of said jaw members comprising and defining mounting recess means therewithin provided with a transversely directed mounting pivot pin means extending across said mounting recess means in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of said pivotal interconnection means and rotatively carrying in side-by-side transversely adjacent relationship along the transverse length of said pivot pin means effectively apertured rear end parts of said plurality of rotatively movably mounted tip members thereon for said arcuate rotative movement between said inner extreme, effectively retracted, inoperative position and said outer extreme, effectively extended, operative position, said apertured rear end parts of said plurality of tip members, being transversely adjacent to each other along the transverse length of each corresponding one of said mounting pivot pin means for independent movement between said inner and outer extreme positions; said pair of jaw members being provided with stop edge abutment portions cooperable with respect to the corresponding rotatably movably mounted tip members for limiting said arcuate, rotatable movement thereof outwardly toward said outer extreme, effectively extended, operative position when said operative position is reached thereby.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said effectively apertured rear end parts of said plurality of tip members mounted transversely adjacent to each other along the transverse length of each corresponding one of said mounting pivot pin means are in effectively fric tional, self-locking engagement with respect thereto whereby to maintain the tip members in any selectively adjusted inner or outer extreme positions.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the recess means defined within each of said jaw members comprises horizontal slot means and wherein each of said jaw members effectively comprises at least one co-planar slot-defining bifurcated member defining the corresponding horizontal slot means, said slot-defining bifurcated members being provided with cantilever Spring means having attached base ends and forcibly deflectable outer free ends; said effectively apertured rear end parts of said tip members being provided with effective cam means adapted to be moved into a position between the corresponding mounting pivot pin means and the free end of the corresponding cantilever biasing spring means as the corresponding tip member is moved between said inner extreme position and said outer extreme position and vice versa and adapted at an intermediate location between said extreme positions to resiliently forcibly deflect said cantilever spring free end and to then subsequently allow it to return slightly in an over-center manner for locking the corresponding tip member in either said inwardly extreme, effectively retracted, inoperative position or said outwardly extreme, effectively extended, operative position.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said tip members is provided with a stopabutment shoulder positioned, when said tip member is in said outwardly extreme effectively extended operative position, at a location for locking and position-stopping abutment with the end of said cantilever biasing spring means in a nondeflection-producing and effectively tip-member-locking manner.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including biasing spring means effectively biasing said handles outwardly and said jaw members toward a correlated initial preoperation relationship thereof.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including biasing spring means effectively biasing said handles outwardly and thereby biasing said jaw members outwardly in a manually forcibly temporarily overridable manner.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including biasing spring means effectively biasing said handles outwardly and thereby biasing said jaw members inwardly in a manually forcibly temporarily overridable manner.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least certain of said tip members have different physical characteristics from others of said tip members.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the connection of forward ends of said operating handles to rear ends of said mounting arms adjacent to said pivotal interconnection means is provided in an effective crossover manner so that the handles are positionally reversed with respect to the positioning of the corresponding mounting arms connected thereto, respectively, thus causing closing movement of said operating handles to produce closing movement of said jaw members and said outwardly extending, operatively positioned selected pair of said tip members for causing forcible closing movement of an inside diameter type of retaining or snap ring.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the connection of forward ends of said operating handles to rear ends of said mounting arms adjacent to said pivotal interconnection means is provided in a manner such as to position each connected mounting arm and its corresponding operating handle on a corresponding side of the pivotal interconnection means, thus causing closing movement of said operating handles to produce opening movement of said jaw members and said outwardly extending, operatively positioned, selected pair of said tip members for causing forcible opening movement of an outside diameter type of retaining or snap ring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 887,552 5/1908 Veno 81422 1,110,528 9/1914 Borresen 81-5.1 X 1,681,662 8/1928 Douglass 815.1 X 2,900,854 8/ 1959 Werner 81-422 X 3,040,420 6/1962 Kulp 29-229 ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner J. C. PETERS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 8l-5.1 

